In a hybrid microbiology lecture/lab course with interventions that encouraged collaborative learning and the increased structure of online discussions, students reported similarly high levels of team satisfaction (assessed using Comprehensive Assessment of Team Member Effectiveness) and similar exam scores as students in a parallel section with more traditional face-to-face lectures.

Since the start of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, many microbiology lab activities have been conducted online. We produced a simple PCR primer design and virtual PCR activity for introductory students to use as part of an online laboratory course or as an independent activity in a traditional laboratory setting.

We developed a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) that gives students an opportunity to practice the process of science in a context that intersects with their everyday lives: purchasing grocery store chicken. Student mastery of concepts was assessed by pre- and postassessment questions and lab report worksheets that guided them through the process of writing a scientific paper.